| Author |
Message |
Tom Dessert (Mci5er)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 1:54 am: | |
I've been doing some reading in the archives about blocking buses. I understand that my 5A has jacking points for raising the axles to change tires etc. I also understand that it has frame jacking point for lifting the body. My orignal maintenance manual locates these areas for me with warnings not to lift the frame so high as to put stress on the airbags etc.
Some members have mentioned in the past to use drive-up ramps made of 8x10 railroad ties to avoid these type of problems. My assumption is that the tie is layed with the 10" side down on horizontal and a sloped cut across the 8" high face. Can anyone tell me the slope, I need to cut? Also, can I safely run one tire up on the ramp without tweeking the frame, since it would be 8" higher than the other three wheels? I need to get under the bus to run some wiring passed the differental, thru the rear crossmember and into the engine compartment.
Any help would be appreciated. |
Greg Peterson
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 9:18 pm: | |
Go over to the MAK BB site and do a search on “Plans for short & long ramp”
This is a how to build a ramp guide by Sojourner.
It looks like a good and strong design.
Don’t take any chances with the bus and the air bag suspension. Build a good safe ramp so you are safe and can enjoy your hobby. Even if you are on a ramp, if the air bag drops the bus can come way down and if you are in the wrong position it could be bad. Make sure you block the frame so that you control how far the bus can drop.
Good Luck. |
Geoff (Geoff)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 10:15 pm: | |
I should jump in here and tell you that ramps work in pairs-- you don't ever want to use one ramp only-- always use both ramps on the same axle. |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 10:29 pm: | |
Tom, if you do a search on this site for "Run up blocks", you will find other examples and information about them that you will likely find useful.
For what it's worth.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher
Ketchikan, Alaska |
Tom Dessert (Mci5er)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 02, 2006 - 12:03 am: | |
Thanks Guy for the input. I picked up two 20 Ton jacks today and have lots of blocking and will approach this by raising both rear wheels together on ramps then raise the rear chassis with the bottle jacks. I also have Bigfoot levelers mounted just forward of my jacking points that I'll lower down as an added safety measure. Safety First
Thanks Again |